MediaCoder

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Editors' Review

MediaCoder provides all the tools needed to convert audio and video clips, but it also adds a level of complexity that audiophiles will love. Casual users, however, will be confused and should steer clear.

The program's interface was helpful but also baffling. While it walks you through the setup process, it does so online, which was a bit odd and certainly different. Nevertheless, it coordinated the program setup in a few easy steps. We were able to convert our audio and video files into corresponding formats like MP3, MP4, AMR, WAV, and a few others. MediaCoder works with a single button, though the conversion took several minutes longer than we expected for a 6-minute file. Regardless, the results contained all the data of the original, with the media specifications we requested. The program offers a ton of special features that are great for the audio obsessive but a bit overwhelming for the casual user just looking to convert some files. Its head-spinning array of options are a dream for serious AV lovers and include everything from adjustable bit rates to picture and sound quality settings, and all with descriptions heavy on the jargon and technical terms,--just how they like it. Those seeking a simple, hassle-free converter should look elsewhere, but for users looking to customize files, MediaCoder is perfect.

MediaCoder is freeware.

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Publisher's Description

MediaCoder is an universal audio or video batch converter, which puts together lots of excellent audio or video codec's and tools from the open source community into an all-in-one solution, capable of coding among different audio or video formats. It contains many extra features and expandable architecture. MediaCoder is more than a GUI of a bunch of command line tools.

Works well, at least for audio conversion from FLAC to MP3. I've not tried video conversion.

Cons

1. Not freeware, it's nagware (displays ads using OpenCandy).2. For a minimum contribution of $25 the software claims the nags will be removed. Only after paying does the author tell you that the ads will reappear if you run the software without a constant internet connection. The only place where one can discover that a constant internet connection is required is on the page about the premium version.3. When asked about this the author's suggestion is to pay an extra $130 (at the time of writing) for a USB dongle that will have to be plugged in whenever the software is used.4. When started without an internet connection a popup appears notifying the user that some functionality will actually be disabled if there's no internet connection.5. Requires admin rights to be successfully "authorised" with the purchased user ID.

Summary

There are apparently some proprietary converters in the software, but otherwise it doesn't do anything that can be done with actual freeware, such as Avanti, though it may cover more formats than the freeware options.

it can convert video in most format without effecting much of its original quality format unless user customized into different settings. More optional and customize-able interface to user.

Cons

There is no cons for now, but if user converted into low quality file format or customized into different setting of course will reduce the quality. for best quality output video requires higher file size than the original size.

One of the fastest transcoding programs I've found, esp on new Core i3/5/7 machines.

Cons

Everything else is a con. Premium version is a rip off, support is nonexistent, and the forums are a joke. Just do a search for a problem you're having, and you'll find dozens of open threads with no solutions. Developer stopped responding to my emails after questioning why I should use the latest version if it doesn't work, when older versions (which are no longer available from them) work well enough to use. Program frequently behaves erratically, free version often works better than paid version. "New" builds never fix bugs, they just introduce new ones. All in all, it's worth nothing, so the free version is okay. DO NOT GIVE THIS DEVELOPER ANY MONEY. You will regret doing so.

Summary

Free is a proper price for this. If you need transcoding to MP4's, just use Handbrake and save yourself the hassle. If you're considering using the paid version commercially, DO NOT. You'll have more downtime than anything else.

- MediaCoder works.- It can and will convert multimedia files to a fair amount of other formats available.- It's free. Well. Sort of.

Cons

- It's batch processing is crippled via a nag screen that appears every 10 files converted.- Close the program, and MediaCoder (the unregistered version, of course) will open a web site that's trying to sell you something.- It's not your traditional 'Donation'-ware because of above mentioned nag screen.- The GUI and the options are a bit confusing. There's a learning curve, here.

Summary

MediaCoder is one of the best converters out there. And it might be worth your bucks, considering it gets the converter job done.

However, it has some limits in it's usage. When you are not willing or able to pay for it, you will bump into the nag screen more than once or twice. Which is annoying to say the least.

As for converting one file to another; it takes some time to understand where to find the correct options to convert a video in one format to another format. Some understanding of what you are trying to do, will help you a great deal with figuring out what to change in the options before conversion takes place. The end result will be what you expect of it.

If you lack any kind of knowledge about what sort of media files there are, what the best quality can be, and what to avoid when converting; MediaCoder isn't really for you.

Conclusion:MediaCoder can get the converter job done. And does it very well, when you know what you are doing.

The unregistered version of MediaCoder is no fun to work with because of the nag screen that 'asks' for a donation or you must do a calculation to go on with your batch processing of files. It does this after every 10 files converted, with no exception. Every time you use MediaCoder. And after closing MediaCoder, it will open a commercial web site for you with some sort of offer.

If you are not willing or able to pay for it, than this is the price you must pay for a successful conversion job. You must decide if all this nagging is worth using MediaCoder.

On a side note:MediaCoder might be Open Source, but it lacks all the charm of it. It doesn't 'feel' like an Open Source program at all. It's more like using any other commercial adware or nagware program.

Sometimes 'hangs' at the last few frames of a video file and takes awhile to finish the job (typically showing 5 seconds remaining).

Summary

The website makes it clear that the installation file includes 3rd party software (open candy) and when installing you have the option to "not install" open candy. In other words "watch the screen and read the text".

needed to convert flac files to mp3. This does that job well. It is easy to use. Unlike others I've tried you can select the output bitrate. Free/ open source. So glad I found this. Looks like it does all kinds of other stuff too incl. video.

Very funny. I entered NONE here and the form refuses to submit. "Please enter at least 10 characters". Well here's your 10 characters and more. There are no pros - only cons!

Cons

Didn't work.

Summary

Downloaded and installed.. worked through the wizard... and I kept getting nothing but errors so I gave up and uninstalled it. I just wanted to do one thing, convert an MTS file to MP4 or WMA, and it just didn't work.. took an incredibly long time to do some sort of processing and then just threw up an error.

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